The results of the Government’s National Human Rights Consultation show that Australians have overwhelmingly called for a Human Rights Act.
It’s crucial that we seize this moment and ensure the Government acts on the recommendations. Tell your MP or Senator to enact the Human Rights Act that you and thousands of Australians demanded.
We’ve provided some points you may want to mention on the right of the page and created an easy to use form below to find and email your local Labor MP or Senator.
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Let’s Act On It
You might like to include:
That you were one of tens of thousands of Australians who made a submission to the National Human Rights Consultation
What you wrote in your submission to the National Human Rights Committee
Any personal experiences you (or people you know) have had of human rights violations where human rights protection may have helped
That it’s great to see the National Human Rights Consultation Committee’s recommendations for an Australian Human Rights Act – Let’s act on it!
Encourage them to urge the Government to follow through with the recommendations and implement a Human Rights Act that protects the rights of all Australians, including marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable minorities.
The National Human Rights Consultation Committee has submitted its report to Government recommending that Australia enact a Human Rights Act.
Click here to read the full report or here to read the summary.
What rights might be protected by Australia’s Human Rights Act?
The right to:
Education;
Freedom of expression;
Freedom from interference with privacy;
Freedom from discrimination;
Equality before the law;
Adequate living standards;
Freedom of association;
Just and favorable conditions of work;
Freedom of thought, belief and religion;
Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and
Rights of children to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Click here to see examples of more rights that could be protected.
Human Rights Act in practice
We have some good information on how a Human Rights Act will operate in practice from Victoria and the ACT, as well as the UK, who have all introduced statutory protection of human rights.
A Victorian woman injured her left hand. If she doesn’t receive treatment, she’ll have to have her hand amputated. She’s not considered a priority for treatment because she’s over 50 years of age. The Charter of Human Rights is being used to argue the woman should have prompt access to treatment on the basis of a right to non-discrimination (on the basis of age) and other rights.
In the UK, a husband and wife had been married for 65 years. He was unable to walk unassisted, and relied upon his wife for mobility. She was blind, and relied upon her husband as her eyes. The husband fell ill and was moved into a residential care facility. The wife requested to move with him, but was denied on the basis that she did not meet the entry criteria of the facility. She successfully argued for her admission on the basis of the right to family life.
For more stories that show how a Human Rights Act can make a difference to ordinary people, click here.